My Mess, His Message

We are just days away from Christmas and many of us are busy doing our last minute shopping and cooking. We’re cleaning our houses for visitors and busying ourselves with our “to-do” lists. As we do our last minute preparations for our Christmas celebrations, I am praying that we are remembering Christ this week and sharing Christ this week.

As I have refocused myself on Christ these past few weeks, I’ve found myself a bit frustrated that there are so many of us who forget what this holiday is really about. I’ve been frustrated that we make such a big deal out of the “stuff” that takes place and the “stuff” that we buy, rather than making such a big deal out of Jesus, whom we celebrate this month.

Then I was reminded that not everyone knows Jesus – not everyone has really heard His story. It’s an assumption that many of us make (me included) that everyone knows who Jesus is and has either chosen to follow Him or reject Him – and that’s simply not true. Isn’t it our responsibility, our calling, to tell everyone we know about Him? Especially during this Christmas season!?

I have been reading the first two chapters in Luke this past week reminding myself of the details of Jesus’ birth. Rather than try to summarize it for you, I wanted to share it directly. I pray that if you do not know Jesus, that this passage would move your heart and stir a need for Him in you. If you have questions or would like to talk further about this, please contact me privately. All discussions will be kept confidential.

Merry Christmas – The Savior is Born!!

LUKE CHAPTER 1

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named [g]Zacharias, of the division of [h]Abijah; and he had a wife [i]from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in [j]years.

8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear [k]gripped him.13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will [l]give him the name John.14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit [m]while yet in his mother’s womb.16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in [n]years.”19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who [o]stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.20 And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept [p]making signs to them, and remained mute.23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she [q]kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,27 to a virgin [r]engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the [s]descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was [t]Mary.28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, [u]favored one! The Lord [v]is with you.”29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”34 Mary said to the angel, “How [w]can this be, since I [x]am a virgin?”35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the [y]holy Child shall be called the Son of God.36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and [z]she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.37 For [aa]nothing will be impossible with God.”38 And Mary said, “Behold, the [ab]bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Now [ac]at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah,40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!43 And [ad]how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.45 And blessed is she who [ae]believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her [af]by the Lord.”

The Magnificat

46 And Mary said:

“My soul [ag]exalts the Lord,47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His [ah]bondslave;For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;And holy is His name.50 “And His mercy is[ai]upon generation after generationToward those who fear Him.51 “He has done [aj]mighty deeds with His arm;He has scattered those who were proud in the [ak]thoughts of their heart.52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,And has exalted those who were humble.53 “He has filled the hungry with good things;And sent away the rich empty-handed.54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,[al]In remembrance of His mercy,55 As He spoke to our fathers,To Abraham and his [am]descendants forever.”

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

John Is Born

57 Now the time [an]had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had [ao]displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, [ap]after his father.60 But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.”61 And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea.66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.

Zacharias’s Prophecy

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for usIn the house of David His servant—70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—71 [aq]Salvation from our enemies,And from the hand of all who hate us;72 To show mercy toward our fathers,And to remember His holy covenant,73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,Might serve Him without fear,75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;For you will go on before the Lord toprepare His ways;77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation[ar]By the forgiveness of their sins,78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

LUKE CHAPTER 2

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

2 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all [a]the inhabited earth.2 [b]This was the first census taken while [c]Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [d]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is [e]Christ the Lord.12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [f]manger.”13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,And on earth peace among men [g]with whom He is pleased.”

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the [h]manger.17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

21 And when eight days had passed, [i]before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Everyfirstbornmale that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s [j]Christ.27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, [k]to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,According to Your word;30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32 A Light[l]of revelation to the Gentiles,And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and [m]rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, [n]Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in [o]years and had lived with her husband seven years after her [p]marriage,37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.38 At that very [q]moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Return to Nazareth

39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, [r]increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.